Jack Sanborn – Page 15 – Syndication Server

Projecting Wisconsin’s defensive depth chart for the 2020 season

Earlier this week I took an early look at what Wisconsin’s offense will look like come Week 1. Today we shift focus to the other side of…

Earlier this week I took an early look at what Wisconsin’s offense will look like come Week 1. Today we shift focus to the other side of the football, and predict how Jim Leonhard‘s defense will line up when the season, hopefully, gets underway in September.

2019 saw the Badger defense rank No. 6 in the country and No. 2 in the Big Ten in yards-per-game allowed, No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference in rush-yards-per-game, No. 13 in the nation and No. 4 in the conference in pass yards and saw the team shut out four opponents on its way to a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl appearance.

Much of the unit’s success was due to insane senior year production from linebackers Zack Baun and Chris Orr, guys who combined for 24 sacks, 33.5 tackles-for-loss, 153 total tackles and four forced fumbles.

The two now gone to the NFL, Baun with the New Orleans Saints and Orr with the Carolina Panthers, leaves two massive holes on Leonhard’s defense with their potential replacements having big shoes to fill.

Here’s an early look at what the defensive unit will look like when football season comes around.

Defensive Line

Starters: Isaiahh Loudermilk (defensive end), Garrett Rand (defensive end), Keeanu Benton (defensive tackle)

Backups: Matt Henningsen, Bryson Williams, Boyd Dietzen

The line will be one of the strongest units on the Badger defense this season.

With the team only saying goodbye to backup defensive end David Pfaff after the 2019 season, Leonhard now welcomes back two seniors in Rand and Loudermilk on the edge, a true-sophomore in Benton at tackle after he showed insane potential filling in as a true-freshman and a healthy Williams to complement Benton up front.

The two names to watch along the line as the season progresses are Benton, again only a true-sophomore, and Loudermilk, the one of the group who has the best shot at earning all-conference honors.

After several years of injury-riddled defensive lines, the unit will be a deep one in 2020 and will go a long way to help Leonhard try to find the production lost in the departures of Baun and Orr.

Linebacker

Starters: Jack Sanborn (inside), Leo Chenal (inside), Noah Burks (outside), Izayah Green-May (outside)

Backups: Mike Maskalunas, Jaylan Franklin, Spencer Lytle, Maema Njongmeta

As documented above, the linebacker position is the only defensive unit experiencing significant turnover heading into 2020.

The bright spot, though, is coach Paul Chryst seems to need to reload the position every year as names including T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly, Jack Cichy and now Baun and Orr enter the NFL, and he never has trouble doing so.

This year the name that will step into the role as the leader of the position group and one of the leaders of the entire defense is the junior Sanborn, the team’s leader in tackles and interceptions in 2019 and a guy already receiving NFL-caliber reviews.

With Sanborn will be Chenal at inside linebacker, a true-sophomore who showed flashes during limited playing time in 2019, Burks, a starter as a junior last season who produced seven tackles-for-loss, 36 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and one interception across from Baun, and Green-May, a physically-impressive junior who got injured early in the season after an impressive fall camp.

There will probably be an adjustment period as Chenal and Green-May step into starting roles but the presence of Sanborn, TheDraftNetwork’s No. 72 overall prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft, will pay dividends for Leonhard as he works to make the transition easy and return the position to its 2019 form.

Behind the four probable starters is the senior Maskalunas, a former walk-on who has a shot to play a rotation role, and a bevy of young talent including incoming four-star recruits Nate Herbig and Kaden Johnson and three-star recruit Malik Reed.

Secondary

Starters: Caesar Williams (cornerback), Faion Hicks (cornerback), Eric Burrell (safety), Reggie Pearson (safety)

Backups: Rachad Wildgoose, Donte Burton, Collin Wilder, John Torchio

The secondary, like the defensive line, returns their entire unit from the 2019 campaign.

This will be the story with the 2020 Badger defense, as aside from the obvious at linebacker the unit returns nearly its entire core from 2019, a recipe that has led to success in recent years for Chryst and Leonhard.

The probable starters at cornerback are the senior Williams, a guy who showed out late in the season and was a big reason the Badgers were able to reclaim the axe against Minnesota, and Hicks, a junior with tons of college experience.

The backups behind Williams and Hicks for the deep Badger secondary are likely to be Wildgoose, another upperclassman with plenty of experience, and Burton, a sophomore who is set to take over a starting role after Williams and Hicks’ time in Madison is done.

At safety Leonhard will deploy TheDraftNetwork’s No. 158 overall prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft in Burrell, a senior who finished 2019 with 55 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles and was recently named by ProFootballFocus as the No. 8 returning player in the Big Ten for the 2020 season, and Pearson, a sure-tackling junior who impressed a season ago as a true sophomore recording 60 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles.

The unit, again returning every contributor from 2019, will be one of the best in the conference as Leonhard works to return the defense to its 2019 form.

The experience all over the defensive unit returning to Madison, as outlined above, will be key during today’s unique time as not only is a September start to the season in question, but it is increasingly unlikely that summer camps will be able to occur in-person.

Unlike other schools in the conference who need to usher in an almost-entirely new unit on defense, Wisconsin has the experience all over the field that will make the transition from quarantine to the field a lot smoother as the plans for the upcoming season round into form.

A way-too-early look at Wisconsin’s 2021 NFL Draft prospects

TheDraftNetwork.com took no time releasing their way-too-early 2021 NFL Draft big board when last week’s draft concluded. Sometimes you…

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TheDraftNetwork.com took no time releasing their way-too-early 2021 NFL Draft big board when last week’s draft concluded.

Sometimes you have players like Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Biadasz who are sure-fire NFL players even entering a season. On the other hand, sometimes you have a player like Zack Baun that wasn’t on the NFL draft radar before he experienced a break-out senior season.

The Badgers should have some of both in 2020, as there are several names on TheDraftNetwork’s 2021 big board and many others who have a shot at joining that list.

First, here’s who TheDraftNetwork lists as no-doubt NFL draft prospects entering the 2020 season.

Linebacker Jack Sanborn (No. 72 overall on TDN’s big board)

Sanborn will be a junior in 2020 so it isn’t a sure thing that he enters the 2021 NFL Draft.

Regardless, Sanborn is coming off a team-high 80 tackles and three interceptions in 2019 and is still improving at a rapid pace.

Even if it isn’t until 2022, Sanborn will hear his name called on draft day.

Tight end Jake Ferguson (No. 90 overall on TDN’s big board)

Maybe a bit of a surprise?

Ferguson is coming off a 33-catch, 407-yard season, good for second-best on the team in both categories behind now-Detroit Lion wide receiver Quintez Cephus.

Once the man filling the shoes of current NFL tight end Troy Fumagalli, Ferguson has finished second on the team in receptions two straight years and is molding into a really good receiving tight end in addition to excelling, as many Badgers do, as a blocker.

Ferguson, like Sanborn, is not entering his final season of eligibility in 2020 but were he to enter the draft after the season he projects as a fringe third round prospect.

Here’s who TheDraftNetwork lists as more questionable 2021 NFL Draft prospects.

Safety Eric Burrell (No. 158 overall on TDN’s big board)

Burrell broke onto the scene in 2018 and became the team’s 6th-leading tackler as a starter at safety opposite current Tampa Bay Buccaneer D’Cota Dixon.

In 2019 the Maryland native improved again as the leader of the secondary as he was the team’s 5th-leading tackler to go along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

The senior returns to an experienced and talented secondary unit in Madison and, according to TDN, has a real chance at playing at the next level.

Left tackle Cole Van Lanen (No. 181 overall on TDN’s big board)

Van Lanen is thought of as a sure-fire NFL prospect though has been overshadowed a bit by the other NFL talent along the Wisconsin offensive line during the past few years.

The analysts at TDN mention how the left tackle “is an absolute load coming off the snap. He’s got natural power for days thanks to his foot drive and mass, once he’s able to create any level of forward push, he’s consistent in his efforts to continue to balloon the point of attack,” and how “he’s going to be a natural in the run game at the next level.”

As the 2020 season progresses expect Van Lanen to shoot up draft boards and into one of the top tiers at his position.

Finally, here’s who TheDraftNetwork lists as questionable/fringe 2021 draft prospects and who I believe are other names to watch as the season progresses

Isaiahh Loudermilk (No. 232 overall)

Logan Bruss (No. 244 overall)

Jack Coan (No. 305 overall)

Garrett Rand (Unranked)

Caesar Williams (Unranked)

Danny Davis (Unranked)

BadgersWire Q&A with Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn

As we all try to make it through these trying times there is still, hopefully, a college football season on the horizon. One of the key…

As we all try to make it through these trying times there is still, hopefully, a college football season on the horizon.

For the Wisconsin Badgers, one of the key figures in that upcoming season will be junior linebacker Jack Sanborn.

Sanborn came to Wisconsin in 2018 and saw the field right away as a true freshman.

The Illinois native then took over the starting job at middle linebacker as a sophomore in 2019 with former Badgers T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly gone to the NFL.

He now enters his junior season coming off a 2019 campaign during which he produced an impressive 80 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions including one in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

BadgersWire caught up with the linebacker to see how the preparation for the 2020 season is going and dive into his progression from a backup as a true freshman to now being the centerpiece of the defense.

BadgersWire: We know today’s situation has really affected draft prep for the guys entering the NFL, but what’s life like for you right now in terms of how you guys are getting ready for the 2020 season?

Sanborn: This is a definitely a crazy time for college sports and our country. Right now the most important thing is being safe and healthy and then making the most of your time to get better as a player.

BadgersWire: Looking forward, what’re your thoughts on playing 2020 potentially without fans in attendance?

JS: Playing without fans is something that has been talked about and I guess we will see where we are in terms of health of our country when the time comes. Football season is still a little while away but the most important thing is the health and safety of everyone involved and that includes the fans.

BadgersWire: It’s rare for a player, especially a linebacker, to see the field as a true freshman in Madison. What was it like seeing playing time right away and how has that first year experience helped you develop into the player you are today?

JS: It has helped greatly in my development since I have been on campus. The greatest teacher is experience as they say and I could not agree more. That really benefitted me but also learning from guys like T.J., Ryan, and Chris helped me develop as a player and learn so much about the game.

BadgersWire: Continuing off that, you started last year and helped to fill the shoes of four-year starter and current Philadelphia Eagle T.J. Edwards and current New York Giant Ryan Connelly, and looking forward to this upcoming year you’ll be doing the same with Chris Orr now graduated. What has it been like filling the shoes of such accomplished players at the position?

JS: Coming in as a freshman I knew those guys were there and I was excited to be in the same room as them. All three of those guys played in a lot of games and a lot of big games and I learned so much from all three of them early on in my career that really helped me grow as a player.

BadgersWire: Looking holistically, how has the Wisconsin program and coaches Paul Chryst and Jim Leonhard aided you in your development and how has the program been able to sustain such an impressive track record at the linebacker position?

JS: Coach Chryst and Coach Leonhard are two of the smartest people in terms of football that I have ever been around. I have learned a lot from them and they really care about you on a personal level and are fun to be around which in a coach makes you love to play for them.

BadgersWire: Is there one moment/one play that sticks out to you as your favorite thus far through two years? (Rose Bowl INT, etc.)

JS: I have made so many memories here in two years so far and look forward to making many more memories with the guys in that locker room whether it’s at practice or in games. If I had to pick one moment I would say winning the axe back.

BadgersWire: Finally, What does it mean to you to have your younger brother [Bryan Sanborn] committed to play for the Badgers after he graduates in 2021?

JS: I’m excited that Bryan is coming to Madison. It’s a great place, a place I love and know that he is going to do great things here.

Projecting Wisconsin’s 2020 Spring Defensive Depth Chart

Who will open up on Wisconsin’s spring depth chart on the defensive side of the football?

Wisconsin’s defense in 2020 will be missing not only two key players but also two key leaders to not only the defense but the entire team. Those two players being 2019 team captains outside linebacker Zack Baun and inside linebacker Chris Orr. Despite Wisconsin losing Baun and Orr to graduation the Badgers still return an impressive nine starters from last year’s defense.

In this Badgers Wire feature, we project what the spring depth chart on defense will look like when the Badgers open up spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Defensive Line: DE 1. Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand, 2. Matt Henningsen and Isaiah Mullens NT 1. Keeanu Benton 2. Gio Paez

Loudermilk and Rand were able to stay healthy over the course of their redshirt junior seasons and as long as they stay healthy they have established themselves as starters at the defensive end positions. Henningsen used last year’s spring practice to put him in a position to have a terrific redshirt sophomore season. If Henningsen can put together a productive spring like he did in 2019 should allow him to take another step in his development. Mullens appeared in 13 games mostly on special teams as he registered one tackle. With backup defensive end David Pfaff graduating he’ll have a chance in spring football to show why he deserves to be apart of the defensive line rotation. At nose tackle, Keeanu Benton will be going through his first spring practice and will receive plenty of valuable practice reps as Bryson Williams could miss all of spring football as he continues to recover from his left leg injury that he suffered this past season. If Williams can’t go that will mean more reps for redshirt freshman Gio Paez as it will be critical that he takes advantage of his reps.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Linebackers: OLB 1. Noah Burks and Izayah Green-May, 2. Spencer Lytle and Jaylan Franklin ILB 1. Jack Sanborn and Leo Chenal 2. Mike Maskalunas and Maema Njongmeta

Christian Bell would’ve had a chance at competing for one of the starting outside linebacker positions opposite of Noah Burks but instead elected to transfer. That leave’s Green-May as the likely starter opposite of Burks when Wisconsin opens spring football. Green-May initially started the 2019 season as a starter but suffered a right arm injury early in the season, which caused him to miss time. Green-May was able to put together a productive fall camp and the practice habits he developed last year will need to continue if he wants to establish himself as the starter once again. Outside linebackers coach Bobby April will also give Franklin and Lytle a look as a starter opposite of Burks. Making it an important spring for both of them as the Badgers look for a starter who can complement Burks. Wisconsin may lose Chris Orr at middle linebacker but the transition between Orr and Leo Chenal should be a smooth one. Chenal gained valuable experience last year as he played as a true freshman. Chenal will receive plenty of reps over spring football and he should be able to take a nice step in his development. Maskalunas will be Chenal’s top competitor for the other starting inside linebacker position as he’s been serviceable during his time at Wisconsin. Njongmeta redshirted last season and will be going through his first spring practice.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Cornerbacks: 1. Faion Hicks and Rachad Wildgoose 2. Caesar Williams and Semar Melvin

Hicks has been a regular starter at cornerback for Wisconsin the past two seasons and that shouldn’t change heading into spring practices. Wildgoose and Williams started eight and seven games respectively a season ago. The trio has been Wisconsin’s most consistent group of cornerbacks. Semar Melvin is coming off a redshirt season but he was able to take advantage of the redshirt rule by playing in four games without burning a year of eligibility. Melvin was up and down, which is understandable but the reps he does receive during spring practice will be invaluable as he looks to build off of his freshman season. Jim Leonhard will also likely rotate in Donte Burton and Deron Harrell too as the starters at cornerback or with the second string cornerbacks too.

Projected Spring Depth Chart Safety: FS 1. Eric Burrell, 2. John Torchio SS 1. Reggie Pearson, 2. Collin Wilder

Wisconsin Football Season Review: Inside Linebackers

How well did Wisconsin’s inside linebackers play during the 2019 season.

Wisconsin finished its fifth season under head coach Paul Chryst as Chryst improved his overall record to 52-16 and has a posted a 34-10 record in conference games. After not winning the Big Ten West Division title in 2018 the Badgers were back in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game as the West representative for the fourth time in the last six years since the Big Ten went to its current format.

In this Badgers Wire feature we will examine the play of Wisconsin’s inside linebacker from the 2019 season and take a sneak into what the 2020 season may have in store for the position:

Wisconsin lost two impact players in inside linebackers T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly as the two led Wisconsin in tackles with 113 and 89 respectively last season. In addition, Edwards 11.5 tackles for loss and Connelly’s 10 tackles for loss ranked first and second on the team not to mention Edwards had a team leading three interceptions.

Despite losing two high impact players the expectation was that the Badgers were going to simply reload with Chris Orr and Jack Sanborn officially taking over at inside linebacker.

Those expectations were correct.

As the previous season, the top two tacklers by the end of the year were Wisconsin’s middle linebackers as Sanborn finished with 80 tackles and Orr registered 78 tackles.

Orr outside of outside linebacker Zack Baun was one of the clear leaders of not only Wisconsin’s defense but also the team. Orr was able to find a way of consistently making impact plays for Wisconsin’s defense.

Orr who appeared in 50 career games started all 14 games for the Badgers this past season as he posted career highs in both tackles for loss (14) and sacks (11.5).

Orr’s ability to generate pressure up the middle complemented Baun well on the outside and made it difficult for opposing offenses to move the football down the field consistently against Wisconsin’s defense.

Sanborn who played as a true freshman made a nice jump from his freshman to sophomore season. Sanborn with Orr made it difficult to rush the football up the middle. Sanborn did a good job of diagnosing plays and then hitting the rushing lanes for him to execute at a high level.

Fellow inside linebackers Mike Maskalunas and true freshman Leo Chenal were able to make positive contributions on the inside too.

Maskalunas appeared in 14 games finishing the season with 16 tackles and registered 2 pass breakups and recovered one fumble. Chenal missed three games because of a head injury but still finished the season with 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries and recovered a fumble too.

2020 Wisconsin Inside Linebackers

Losing Orr will hurt as he was a great leader for Wisconsin as he had the respect of all of his teammates. But at the same time with Sanborn returning and the expectation that Chenal will slide in at the other inside linebacker position the Badgers once again should be set at the position like they have been the last few years. Maskalunas will return for his senior season as he’s a reliable player that the coaches can count on as he has a comfort in Wisconsin’s 3-4 defense. The Badgers will need to have a reliable fourth inside linebacker as that responsibility could fall to redshirt freshman Maema Njongmeta or Malik Reed, Jordan Turner, or Preston Zachman as the three will be true freshman. Turner and Zachman both enrolled early at Wisconsin, which will give themselves a good chance of seeing the field early if they can gain a comfort in Wisconsin’s defense.

Who Earned Game Balls from Wisconsin’s 28-27 Loss to Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game?

Who earned game balls from Wisconsin’s loss to Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game? Aron Cruickshank WR, Quintez Cephus WR, Jack Sanborn MLB

PASADENA, Calif. – Here are three players for Wisconsin who earned game balls in a tough 28-27 loss to Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game:

Aron Cruickshank

Cruickshank made an impact as the Badgers kickoff return man returning his second kickoff back of the season back for a touchdown this time from 95-yards out to tie the game at seven. Cruickshank on his second kickoff return in the second quarter resulted in a 47-yard gain setting the Badger offense up at the 50. Cruickshank’s second return allowed Wisconsin the chance of potentially getting points before halftime as the Badgers needed eight plays to give Wisconsin a halftime lead of 17-14.

Quintez Cephus

Cephus play allowed for Wisconsin to get production out of the passing game as he was one of eight players to catch a pass. But Cephus led Wisconsin with seven receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown, which came before halftime. Cephus was able to consistently create the separation he needed in order for him to give Jack Coan a target to throw to and help keep Wisconsin’s offensive drives alive.

Jack Sanborn

Sanborn’s eight tackles led the team and he registered one interception on Oregon’s second offensive possession of the game at the Ducks 27-yard line. The play of Sanborn helped Wisconsin keep contain of the Ducks rushing attack as the Badgers held them to 66 yards on 30 carries. Simply put Sanborn was active throughout the game helping make sure Oregon couldn’t get comfortable on the offensive end.

Grading Wisconsin’s 28-27 Loss to Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their 28-27 loss to Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game?

Grading No. 8 Wisconsin’s 28-27 loss to No. 6 Oregon in the 106th Rose Bowl Game.

Offense: D

Four turnovers.

Simply put Wisconsin beat themselves on offense at times. Four turnovers all occurring in Wisconsin territory was a killer as Oregon turned Wisconsin’s miscues into 21 points.

Wisconsin fumbled the football three times as Jonathan Taylor, Danny Davis, and Anthony Lotti all lost fumbles while Jack Coan threw an interception.

The dagger came when Davis fumbled the football in the fourth quarter on a jet sweep as the fumble was forced by Rose Bowl Defensive MVP Brady Breeze and was recovered by Bryson Young. Oregon only needed one play to take the lead for good as Oregon’s quarterback Justin Herbert registered a 30-yard rushing touchdown with 7:41 to go in the game.

Davis was also called for an offensive pass interference call on Wisconsin’s last offensive possession of the game, which wiped out a first down catch by Jake Ferguson on third down. Wisconsin’s ensuing offensive play resulted in an incompletion on third and 20 forcing the Badgers to punt the football away with 2:54 to go in the game.

Davis’ 19 yards rushing was second on the team behind Taylor’s 94 yards rushing on 21 carries. Taylor’s 94 yards put him over 2,000 yards rushing for the second consecutive season joining Iowa State’s Troy Davis (1995, 1996). Taylor also added 43 yards receiving on two receptions.

Taylor struggled to get into a rhythm on offense as the Ducks defense did well of containing him as he averaged 4.5 yards per carry as his longest rush was 18 yards against the Ducks defense.

With Oregon doing well of keeping contain of Taylor on the ground meant Coan attempted 35 passes, which was a season-high. Overall Coan finished the game 23-for-35 for 186 yards and one touchdown pass to Quintez Cephus.

Two of Coan’s favorite targets were Cephus (7-59-1) and Ferguson (4-44) as the two combined to catch 11 passes for 103 yards. Overall eight players caught a pass for the Badgers as half of the players who caught a pass registered at least three or more receptions.

Wisconsin’s offense at times struggled to get into a rhythm early in the game as the Badgers defense was able to set Wisconsin’s offense up with good field position when Jack Sanborn intercepted a pass giving the Badgers offense the football back at Oregon’s 27-yard line. But Oregon’s defense stepped up and was able to get off the field after three plays forcing for Wisconsin to settle for a field goal to give the Badgers a 10-7 lead.

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Wisconsin Lands 2021 LB Bryan Sanborn

The Badgers landed their sixth commitment in the 2021 recruiting class in Bryan Sanborn

Wisconsin received commitment No. 6 in the 2021 class on Friday night as the Badgers landed linebacker Bryan Sanborn from Lake Zurich High School in Illinois.

Sanborn is the younger brother of starting inside linebacker Jack Sanborn. Bryan is rated as a three-star linebacker by both Rivals and 247 Sports as Sanborn selected Wisconsin over a number of offers including offers from Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

Sanborn like his older brother is projected to play on the inside as his primary recruiter will be his position coach when he arrives in Madison in Bob Bostad.

Sanborn joins a 2021 recruiting class that already includes athlete Jackson Acker, offensive lineman J.P. Benzschawel, running back Loyal Crawford, quarterback Deacon Hill, and offensive lineman Riley Mahlman.

Grading Wisconsin’s 34-21 Loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their 34-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game?

Grading No. 8 Wisconsin’s 34-21 loss over No. 1 Ohio State.

Offense: C

Wisconsin couldn’t put together two strong halves of football on offense. After registering 294 yards of total offense in the first half against Ohio State’s defense the Buckeyes held the Badgers to 138 yards on 37 offensive plays.

Wisconsin in the first half was able to create a balance as the Badgers rushed for 194 yards and Jack Coan threw for 100 yards. Coan was able to make the plays he needed to in the first half to give the Badgers a chance of pulling the upset leading 21-7 at halftime.

But the same opportunities that were there for Coan in the first half the Buckeyes had an answer for in the second half. Coan was able to consistently connect on quick passes to his wide receivers but with the Buckeyes dropping into zone coverage in the second half the same passing lanes simply weren’t open.

Coan’s go-to target in the passing game was Quintez Cephus who finished the game with seven receptions for 122 yards.

Cephus’ two biggest catches of the game came on the first offensive play, which resulted in a 27-yard gain helping set up Wisconsin’s first touchdown of the game. Cephus also hauled in a 24-yard catch to set up Wisconsin 1st and goal from the 1-yard line. Coan was able to punch the football in on the ensuing offensive play to give Wisconsin a 21-7 lead right before halftime.

Coan finished the game with 232 yards passing on 17-for-33 passing, in addition, he rushed for 27 yards on eight carries and he had two rushing touchdowns. Coan was able to use his mobility to his advantage in the first half as he was able to keep plays alive with his feet and to extend drives.

Jonathan Taylor became the first player this season to rush for over 100 yards as he finished the game with 148 yards on 20 carries and had a 44-yard rushing touchdown. Taylor also registered a 45-yard rush on Wisconsin’s final offensive drive in the first half. If Taylor is stopped for minimal gain the Badgers likely go into halftime up 14-to-7.

But Taylor’s run continued to allow for Wisconsin to play with the same aggression that they played with throughout the first half.

Wisconsin had six different players catch a pass as outside of Cephus having a productive day Danny Davis who hasn’t caught a pass in three straight games was second on the team in both receptions (three) and receiving yards (38).

The Badgers offensive line turned in a better performance in the rematch against Ohio State but in the second half, the Buckeyes started to get the better of Wisconsin’s offensive line. Considering the Buckeyes defense held Wisconsin to 3.7 yards per play.

The Badgers offensive line also allowed eight tackles for loss and two sacks as Chase Young finished the game with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries.

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Grading Wisconsin’s Victory over Nebraska

What grades did Wisconsin earn in their 37-21 victory over Nebraska to retain the Freedom Trophy?

Grading No. 15 Wisconsin’s 37-21 win over Nebraska.

Offense: B

For the third time in his career Jonathan Taylor went over 200 yards rushing against Nebraska as he finished with 204 yards on 25 carries and two rushing touchdowns.

Taylor’s rushing performance against Nebraska puts him past Herschel Walker (5,596 yards) for most rushing yards in a career through his junior year as Taylor now has 5,634 rushing yards in his career.

Taylor’s longest rush of the day against Nebraska was 19 yards and like last week he wasn’t tackled behind the line of scrimmage as he averaged an impressive 8.2 yards per carry.

In total Wisconsin rushed for 320 yards on 45 carries. Despite Danny Davis (3-48) not catching a pass against Nebraska he and Nakia Watson (8-36) combined to rush for 84 yards on 11 carries.

Outside of Wisconsin’s offensive line continuing to get the better push to allow for Wisconsin to consistently pick up positive yards rushing the football as the Badgers only allowed one tackle for loss. In addition, the Badgers made sure Jack Coan stayed clean as he wasn’t sacked for the first time this year.

Coan didn’t turn the football over as it snapped a three game streak of him turning the football over at least once but there were instances where he didn’t always place the football where his intended target could make the catch.

The first example would be on Wisconsin’s opening offensive drive. Coan was able to complete a screen pass to Taylor but he had to reach back and catch it with one hand. Taylor started to cut upfield but never completely secured the football as JoJo Domann was able to force the fumble. Taylor should have done more to protect the football but if Coan is able to place the football more squarely in his chest the Badgers avoid there only turnover of the game. Nebraska was able to cash Taylor’s fumble into seven points.

The second example was on Wisconsin’s last offensive possession of the first half. On 3rd and goal at Nebraska’s six Coan attempted a pass to A.J. Taylor but the throw was behind him making it a difficult catch.

Overall Coan finished the game 13-for-21 (61.9 percent) for 162 yards and a touchdown. Coan’s touchdown throw was to A.J. Taylor for 55 yards, eclipsing the previous season long pass of 52 yards, which occurred last week against Iowa from Coan to Quintez Cephus. Coan was able to complete passes to seven different players while A.J. Taylor’s 65 yards led the team Kendric Pryor (30 yards) and Quintez Cephus (23 yards) each caught three passes.

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